Simple Pleasures: 5 Ideas for Snow Cones and Shaved Ice

We always seem to forget about the whole snow cone and shaved ice category of frozen summer treats. Maybe this is because we're usually buying them on a whim from street carts and rarely think about making them at home. But why not? Here are a few icy ideas to inspire us this weekend.

The first trick of making a snow cone at home is getting the shaved ice. We've already determined that the Snoopy Sno Cone machine, cute though it may be, is less than ideal. Many companies like Hamilton Beach (available on Amazon for $25) and Norpro (available on Amazon for $15) make ice shavers that look a little more user friendly. We've also wondered if you could make individual servings of shaved ice using a microplane or even a box grater. It's definitely worth a try.

You can also make crushed ice in your blender or food processor. This method will make ice that is more crunchy than fluffy, but delicious topped with syrup all the same. Many shaved ice recipes also recommend making a granita-style dessert if you don't have access to a good ice shaver.

Once you have the shaved ice, here are a few ideas for what to put on top!